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Local budget on agenda
A BUMPER Mitchell Shire Council meeting was set to address the adoption of the 2026-27 budget and the 10-year financial plan last night.
Residents had one final chance to submit questions about the budget the previous week at council’s community questions and hearings meeting, with the budget put forward last night for adoption.
The adoption follows months of community feedback, with community engagement undertaken in January and February.
Ninety individual submitters put forward a total of 133 proposals, with 96 relating to capital projects and 37 operational or advocacy items submitted.
As a result, six ideas will be planned to be pursued in the 2026-27 financial year, and a further 15 ideas included within the four-year budget. Seventy-five projects are not included within the four-year budget, while six will be referred to other parties or continued to be advocated by Council.
The six upgrades for 2026-27 are amenities access upgrades for the Sue Marstaeller Pavilion at LB Davern Reserve in Wandong, a missing link footpath for Hamilton Street and Hawdon Street in Broadford, DDA parking for Murchison Street in Broadford, two submissions for the netball court renewal in Seymour’s Kings Park, and drinking fountains in local parks, including on Aspect Boulevard in Broadford.
Council is also set to introduce a public waste service charge which is designed to cover the cost of waste services which benefits the wider community, saying that it would ensure existing kerbside collection fees only cover costs for collection and disposal.
On the budget document, released on April 30, Mitchell Shire Mayor Councillor John Dougall said he had also heard feedback about roads, which also includes an additional $500,000 investment.
“We have heard clear feedback from the community about road conditions. Councillors responded by reprioritising funding within the budget, resulting in a modest but meaningful ongoing increase in road renewal investment. We have focused on making measured decisions, /roxen-files/print/images/magic-dash.png "Local budget on agenda 1"){kind=small}
prioritising essential services, maintaining critical assets and planning responsibly for future investment. We are committed to managing debt prudently, maintaining appropriate reserves and working within the rate cap framework,” Cr Dougall said.
“It is these types of decisions and commitments that enable our budgeting to remain sustainable over the long term. It enables us to respond to current pressures while safeguarding council’s financial position so we can continue delivering for our community in the years ahead.”
Last night’s council meeting was also set to discuss a fire recovery plan, the economic development strategy, the 12-month review of the kerbside transition and the Mitchell Shire road safety strategy and action plan as part of a large agenda.
Trail of destruction
VANDALS have damaged the public toilets at the All Abilities Play Space in Mill Park, leaving families and people with disabilities without vital facilities.
The extensive damage, totalling more than $50,000, has impacted all public toilets at the park, including the Changing Places facility, which is utilised by people with high-support needs.
Damages to the Changing Places toilet include smashed mirrors, the main door being forcibily removed and major impairments of the electrical equipment including the tracking hoist which helps those with limited mobility move around the bathroom.
City of Whittlesea Mayor Councillor Lawrie Cox said: “Vandalism has no place in our community.”
“When our parks and playgrounds are deliberately damaged, it affects every resident or visitor who relies on these facilities when out in the community.
“This kind of behaviour shows a blatant disrespect for much-needed public facilities, costing the Council, and ultimately the community.”
Due to the extent of the damage caused, the council said it has no choice but to close the toilet facilities while urgent repair work is undertaken.
“It’s time we called out this senseless behaviour for what it is – selfish, unacceptable and a waste of public money,” Cr Cox said.
“Our crews are working to repair the toilets and to reopen them for public use as quickly as possible. We thank you for your patience and understanding while these works are carried out.”
Changing Places facilities are larger than standard accessible toilets and are fitted with a height adjustable adult-sized change table, a shower and enough space for two people either side of a peninsula toilet.
There are less than 200 of these vital facilities statewide, which offer those with high support needs a chance to participate in all elements of community life without being concerned about being able to access a suitable toilet.
Council is urging anyone with information on the damage to contact Victoria Police.
Police told the Review it is investigating criminal damage at the All Abilities Play Space in Mill Park.
Investigators have been told offender/s caused extensive damage to the toilet block at the playground off Morang Drive sometime between May 2 and 11.
Police said it is estimated the damage caused is worth about $45,000.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an online confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
A Greenhill classic
IT was everything you could have wanted in a marquee match-up for round six of the Riddell District Football Netball League. Electric ball movement, high scoring, both teams throwing themselves at the contest, and late drama.
That was the story of Wallan’s 26-point win which left the Greenhill Reserve crowd in a frenzy as the Magpies charged home with six of the last seven goals to overwhelm fellow premiership fancy Diggers Rest, taking stock as the league’s last undefeated team.
Early on, however, it looked anything but. The Burra shot out of the blocks with a heavy breeze, kicking five of the first six goals to open up an early 27-point cushion, 34-7, with Wallan’s only shot fired by Steven Boyall.
Wallan slowly got into the game, however, and it was a combination of the club’s new faces, experienced faces and young players who helped give the Magpies an avenue back into the game.
Celebrating his 100th game, Sean Morris got among the goalscorers, as did new faces Lachlan Smart and Dion Hill. Senior debutant Campbell Harrison closed the gap, before Corey Viani and two late efforts from Chris Stewart meant the game was turned on its head – Wallan kicking eight goals for the term to lead by 15 points at the main break, 57-42.
Already, this was proving to be a survival-of-the-fittest type matchup, and it was Wallan on the front foot, with Diggers Rest losing troops, including league-leading goalscorer Callum Moore, who did not appear in the second half.
When Morris kicked his second, the lead was 21 points, and the Magpies were looking good. But more importantly, against the breeze, the Magpies successfully shut down plenty of forward thrusts. Jake Carlisle was important in the third, hauling down intercept mark after intercept mark to keep the Burra at bay.
The Magpies led by 10 points at the final change, 65-55, but Diggers Rest fired the first two shots of the last term to close the gap to just one point.
There was drama aplenty. Domenic Luci restored a seven-point lead, but at the 17-minute mark, Diggers Rest found itself in front by five points.
As it turned out, not even half the quarter had passed. Smart bobbed up to kick two crucial goals to help Wallan hit back, before Nash King looked as though he had sealed the game at the 24-minute mark.
That wasn’t all, however. Another goal to Diggers Rest meant the margin was eight points with 30 minutes goal, before Wallan somehow found three more goals, through Harrison, Smart and King, to eventually cap off a hectic 12-goal, 38-minute final quarter to win 17.9 (111) to 13.7 (85) in an instant classic.
Boyall and Morris played inspirational games leading from the front, while Carlisle was a tour-de-force at centre half back. Owen Fowler, Hayden Gill and Stewart completed the best players.
ROMSEY OUTCLASSED BY CATS
By Cooper O’Brien
A total demolition job in Romsey on Saturday afternoon saw Macedon come into the game with form, winning five of six games for the year.
The round six clash is the first time the Cats have returned to Romsey Park since their unsuccessful premiership attempt in last year’s grand final.
Macedon young gun Michael Rutledge kickstarted the Cats with the first three to start the game.
Macedon dominated clearances early and it led to multiple goals putting Romsey under the pump within minutes.
The Cats dominated the first quarter setting a high bar for Romsey to respond to in the second.
Romsey coach Nathan Blair’s quarter time message was to hold back in defence, slow it down and move the ball latterly.
“They’re giving us the space. We need to start using it defensively and with the wings.”
The second quarter was goalless for Romsey.
They were poor in the midfield and couldn’t convert in front of goal when the opportunity presented itself.
Macedon continued their dominance with goals coming from turnovers and centre clearances.
Blake Watson showed his dominance physically and put on the scoreboard pressure marking a seven goal to one lead for the Cats at half time.
Romsey’s third quarter needed some juice to keep their supporters interested.
The Redbacks came out strong with multiple scoring chances early and two quick goals from end-to-end transitions.
They didn’t necessarily have much of a sniff at this point in the game, but they started to show a bit of fight for the first time in the game.
They continued to bring the physicality throughout the quarter, but with that came recklessness.
They gifted two direct goals from unnecessary down field free kicks off the ball, which then sparked Rutledge to finish a set shot in front of goal and approach youngster Oscar Alexander straight after sparking a full team mele.
Fintan Light kicked one of the goals of the year late in the last quarter, handballing over a opposition player to then run on from the boundary, roughly 40 metres out and bend it through with a banana.
He looks to be a promising young gun in the Macedon outfit which could help them go deep in finals once again.
The final term saw Romsey come out and kick the first three goals. Jack Jedwab had 2 goals in the quarter, one from a tough spot close to the boundary.
But Macedon again quickly responded kicking three of the last four to end up winning the game by 63 points.
Rutledge’s six goals gives him best on, Watson closely following, kicking two goals but having a major impact all around the ground.
Romsey now fall to seventh on the RDFNL ladder winning two of the first five games.
ELSEWHERE IN THE RIDDELL
Lancefield’s quest for a first win of the season goes on, with a costly third quarter proving the difference against Woodend-Hesket.
The Tigers were well in the game at half time, kicking three goals to two in the second term to trail by three points, but the Hawks ran rings around the Tigers in the third term, kicking five goals to one to lead by 29 points at the last change.
A further six goals to three ensured the Hawks would win 16.13 (109) to 9.8 (62).
Thomas Sayers kicked three goals, while Luca McTrusty, Tyreese Sefer-Govender, Tully Fattore, Leroy Ristevski and Riley O’Meara were the Tigers’ better players.
In the A grade netball competition, Wallan is also the last unbeaten team, defeating Diggers Rest 59-38.
A big first quarter which yielded 15 goals to four was the tonic for the Magpies, while 19 goals to 10 in the third quarter extended the margin to 21 goals by the end of the game.
Rebekah Konstantopoulos scored 30 goals, while Ebony Leech on debut added 19.
Lancefield faded out in the final quarter, losing its first game of the season to Woodend-Hesket 43-49.
The Tigers did not trail in any of the first three quarters, holding a two-goal lead at half time and one goal at the final change, but the Hawks scored 15 goals to eight in the final term to overwhelm Lancefield.
Shanae Brundell scored 25 goals for the Tigers, while Lilli Florance scored 18.
Romsey was no match for Macedon, losing by 18 goals.
The Redbacks were jumped in the opening quarter, trailing by six goals, but it was the third quarter where much of the damage was done by the Cats, scoring 17 goals to nine as the lead was 20 goals at the final change, before Romsey won the last quarter.
Maddison Thompson scored 21 goals for the Redbacks.
Crunch time for Eagles
WHILE it’s not quite panic stations yet for Whittlesea, a 22-point loss to Lower Plenty at home means the Eagles have some work to do to ensure it stays in the race for finals.
As it is, the Eagles are only percentage out of the top five, albeit some 56 per cent behind fifth-placed Macleod, but with a young team and injuries mounting up, the next few weeks will be telling.
Whittlesea fought hard for three quarters in its loss to the Bears on Saturday at home but ultimately ran out of legs when push came to shove in the last quarter.
The Eagles got the perfect start in the opening minute, when Caden Allen kicked a goal to get Whittlesea on its way. Indeed, the Eagles played some good footy to open proceedings, with Angus Smith adding another, while Harley Fraumano and Jay Allen also scored to ensure Whittlesea led 24-16 at the first break.
The second quarter was a tale of two halves. Lower Plenty kicked two goals to open the term, but it was Whittlesea who finished the stronger, with Jack Taylor and Jett Fraumano kicking goals to lead 40-33 at the main break.
Lower Plenty started to ask serious questions of the young Eagles lineup, and it paid off with four goals for the term, while Smith kept the Eagles alive with two more goals, as Lower hit the front to lead 59-55 at the final change.
The Bears finished full of running, kicking four straight goals to end the contest, while Smith added his fourth in a good performance. Lower Plenty won 12.14 (86) to 9.10 (64).
Smith, Bailey Robinson, Liam Tyrrell, Kane Johnson, Cruz Young and Deakin Tennant all played well for the Eagles.
South Morang’s late fightback wasn’t enough to pinch the four points off Fitzroy Stars at Mill Park Lakes Reserve, missing a potential opportunity to keep up with ladder-leaders Northcote Park.
The Lions were quite simply overwhelmed in the first three quarters – trailing by 23 points at the opening change, 29 at the main break, and 46 points at the final change.
However, while an undermanned Fitzroy Stars stopped to a walk, South Morang charged home.
The Lions forwards, namely Jesse John Christidis, Ben Peterson and Josh Lansfield, all got into the game, with Christidis in particular putting in a noteworthy performance with four goals.
However, the Stars hung on to score an 11.8 (74) to 10.6 (66) triumph.
Christidis, Nathan Stefanile, Demetrios Constantinou, Teague Van Zwienen, Christian Mardini and Carter McCall were all in the best for the Lions.
In division three, Laurimar eased to a 42-point win over Reservoir at Crispe Park.
With leading goalkicker Patrick Fitzgerald out, Matt Keys took over the Power’s forward line and delivered a best-on-ground performance to kick three goals, while Zac McMahon also added three.
The Power led by 21 at the first change, 30 at half time and 46 at three-quarter-time, before winning 14.15 (99) to 9.3 (57).
Keys, Jesse Donaldson, Cooper Cusinato, Bailey Macleod, McMahon and James Apted were all named in the best.
Eight goals from Kyle Green ensured Mernda took a comfortable 66-point win over Lalor at Waterview Reserve.
Despite the discrepancy between the two teams, Mernda needed to work to eventually get over the top of the Bloods, with inaccuracy again haunting the Dees.
Mernda led by 23 points at the first change, before Lalor closed the gap to 18 by the main break. The Dees released the shackles in the third term, kicking six goals to nil, before adding seven goals to five in the last term to win 19.17 (131) to 9.11 (65).
Josh Mazzarella put in a supreme performance, while Green’s eight goals also earned a mention in the best. Lincoln Coffey, Jayden Bell, James Sekulovski and Christian Evans completed the best players for the Demons.
On Friday night, Laurimar had the best night out of the three teams that compete in the Northern Football Netball League’s netball competition.
The Power won four from five, with the only slip up Laurimar 4’s loss to Montmorency, while Laurimar 1 took a thrilling one-goal win over Greensborough.
South Morang had a mixed night, with its premier division team scoring a 34-21 win over Bundoora, while South Morang 3 and 4 scored wins.
Whittlesea had a tougher night, with its premier division team losing 30-47 to North Heidelberg 2, while Whittlesea 2 and 3 also lost to Hurstbridge and Hazel Glen respectively. Whittlesea 4 defeated Watsonia.
Good signs in Darraweit
TORRENTIAL floods in October 2022 affected most of Darraweit Guim including the school and multiple houses in the small community.
The Hidden Valley and Wallan District Men’s Shed has restored a washed away community board in the heart of Darraweit Guim that was damaged and swept away during the floods.
Christine Craig, a member of the Darraweit Guim community, found the sign and gave it to the men’s shed to try and fix.
With a little bit of help from MarkDesign, they not only fixed it, but fully restored the bent sign, flattening it out and giving it a new base.
The group gets together every Tuesday morning for three hours and does multiple little projects for people within the community.
It has been a six-month process of rebuilding the sign to be able to get it placed where it once was.
The men’s shed President, Philip Fabel, and four of his men dug the holes, levelled the Darraweit Guim sign and filled the holes with concrete so it can’t be washed away again.
But it’s not all shining bright for the men’s shed, who is in desperate need for a new shed.
Mr Fabel and his team are currently working out of a small shed attached to Wallan Gateway Church.
“We thank and highly appreciate the church for the room they’ve provided us with, but it’s probably nearly time to get our own space and I think the feeling is mutual in a way,” he said.
Mr Fabel is keen to get some funding for shed upgrade.
The Romsey Men’s Shed was given $48,589 to upgrade its shed and the Whittlesea group was given $30,000 for their upgrade.
Both funds were given in a Labor Government funding blitz to 31 men’s sheds across Victoria in November.
The Hidden Valley and Wallan District Men’s Shed is only a small group of 15 men which is reasonably low for a quickly developing town.
They’re calling out to anyone who loves to build to pop in on a Tuesday morning at the back of the Gateway Church in Wallan.
Members of the Darraweit Guim community can use magnetic letters to organise events and small gatherings within the town, whether it be a barbecue and a few drinks or a school announcement.
The sign is located at 9 Darraweit Valley Rd in front of the old milk bar/ takeaway shop.
By Cooper O’Brien
Doreen veteran shares heartache
A VIETNAM veteran of Doreen has spoken about the heartache regarding the Brookwood Community Centre saga, and the RSL not yet being delivered the use of the full building.
Paul Adams said Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles came to Doreen just before the last election and told Doreen RSL members that if Labor won the election Doreen RSL would get $1.6 million.
“Simple as that, the man’s word was good as money in the bank. But little did we know there was a little devil in the detail. The money for the RSL depended on being at the Brookwood Community Centre, run by Whittlesea Council,” Mr Adams said.
“I realised this was another false dawn. We were getting a Claytons RSL, it might look like the real thing but it isn’t,” he said.
“For years we have been getting the Sir Humphrey Appleby soft shoe shuffle from the council. Endless words woven like a spider’s web giving only the allusion of interest.
“Finally, they have revealed their hand. The council’s letter to residents on May 5 contained council’s preferred option that confirmed they just don’t want us. A Faustian bargain with terms so onerous that the Sword of Damocles hangs constantly over us, we are to stand on quicksand and there’s nothing we can do about it.”
The council is seeking feedback from residents, regular hirers, and the wider community on a proposal to lease part of the community centre to the Doreen RSL.
Mr Adams said the restrictions imposed are “to keep us at subsistence survival until kicked out after five years, at most 10 according to whim.”
“I would rather meet in a tent in our own pigsty than be the tenant of this hostile landlord.”
“The council letter said though it’s not a done deal because there is a ‘consultation’ process before they confirm their preferred option. But history shows us ‘more swill, I’ll lay money down nothing will change’.
“Machiavellian princes and their knitting, you’ll get your RSL for now. And just to keep you dancing how about more obstacle course work, make a business plan and put it in a begging bowl.
“What logic explains a government putting up $1.6 million of taxpayers’ money for an RSL without any reasonable assurance it will continue to exist? Any limited time tenure is totally unacceptable.”
Mr Adams said Brookwood is a ‘community’ place, built for the use of the community. There is no hope that a piece of an existing facility would be permanently cut off from the community.
“Viable options exist for the RSL but only if the Federal Government removes the condition of binding the RSL grant to the council.
“The government has proven last week that nothing is written in blood so things can be changed when they want to. Same as negative gearing and capital gains tax.
“Just end this bad marriage. A quick and honourable death so we won’t have the ongoing uncertainty of being daily stuck in no man’s land living the death of a thousand cuts,” Mr Adams said.
A council spokesperson said council understands and appreciates the need for the Doreen RSL to have a permanent location for their members.
The current proposal is trying to balance the needs of the RSL with the needs of the broader community including the current users of the Brookwood Community Centre, the spokesperson said.
“This is why council is currently conducting consultation on our preferred option – to lease part of the centre.
“Once we hear back from our community council will make a final decision and have more to say.”